1916 Cedrus Yearbook

19 16 An opportunity for the visiting Alumni to meet old friends, for the visiting delegates to meet the members of the college and community more intimately was afforded at the Inaugural Luncheon, which was held in the Methodist Church dining rooms at noon. Over two hundred and fifty met together about the tables, which were artistically decorated with goldand blue shaded candles and with graceful bouquets of gold and whitechrysanthemums. At the close of the luncheon Rev. J. Alvin Orr,'97, of Pittsburg, Pa., as toastmaster, rose and after a personal tribute to Dr. McChesney called on the representatives of colleges and a number of other distuinguished visitors, who responded with splendid messages of good will and good cheer for Cedarville College and Dr. McChesney. Those heard from at this time were: President W.0. Thompson, of Ohio State University, Prof. William E.Smyser, registrar of Ohio Wesleyan University, President Walter G.Clippinger, Otterbein University; Dr. William P.Johnston, President Emeri- tus of Geneva College; Dr.H.J.Christman,Central Theological Seminary,Dayton, Ohio; E. E. Brandon, Dean and Vice-President of Miami University; Dr. W.S. Scarborough,President of Wilberforce University; President J.Edwin Jay,of Wil- mington College; Dr. Joseph Kyle, President of Xenia Theological Seminary; Prof. J.H.Dickason,of Wooster College; Judge Charles H.Kyle, of Xenia, Ohio; and Representative W.B. Bryson, of Xenia, Ohio. After the luncheon, all those in any way connected with the college asvisiting delegates, alumni, students, and officers, marched in academic procession from the college to the Opera House. It was an unusual and interesting sight, with the serious garb of the academic costume, the bright mingling of the different class colors,thelong file of over one hundred and fifty loyal friends and members of the college, as the procession passed thru the interested crowds of spectators to join those waiting in the Opera House for the important events of the afternoon, which were the climax of the events of the day. As the crowd assembled,and the visiting delegates, faculty,and trustees took their places on the platform which wasdecorated in palms,ferns,cedar,and yellow and white chrysanthemums, the college orchestra, which furnished the music for the day, played an overture. Dr. McKinney,the retiring president,had charge of the exercises of the afternoon. The action of the Board of Trustees was read by the president of the board, Mr.James H.Creswell, after which reading the formal inauguration of the president by the retiring president occurred. The inaugural prayer, which was offered by the Rev. JamesL.Chesnut, D. D.,was followed by the charge to the president by the ex-president. In his sketch of the college Dr. McKinney revealed the splendid service that had already been given by Dr. Mc- Chesney in loyal co-operation and untiring devotion to its best interests, and in his personal address to him he pledged his heartiest co-operation. As retiring president he charged him to be true to the office in deed as in name,to decide for himself the problems brought to him for solution. In response to the charge and the greetings of the day,Dr. McChesney spoke in terms which revealed his depth of appreciation of the honor which had been made _ 20